All American Entertainment Named to Inc. Best Workplaces in 2022. Read more
AAE Named to Inc. Best Workplaces in 2022. Read more
1.800.698.2536
Click to Open Search Bar
All American Speakers Bureau and Celebrity Booking Agency
Click to Open Search Bar
Contact
☰

James Lawson

5 out of 5
1 review

Reverend & Civil Rights Activist

  Categories:
Activists, Christian Speakers, Virtual Speakers
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

James Lawson Biography

Reverend James M. Lawson, Jr. was one of the Civil Rights Movement's leading theoreticians and tacticians in the African American struggle for freedom and equality in the 1950s and 1960s.

Lawson's interest in civil rights and social justice began in 1947 when he entered Baldwin-Wallace College . During his years at Baldwin-Wallace, he became a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) local chapter and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), both of which were devoted advocates of direct nonviolent resistance to racism.

Consistent with his beliefs towards nonviolence, Lawson became a "conscientious objector" during the Korean War, and was sentenced to three years in prison for violating draft laws. Upon his release from prison and the completion of his bachelor's degree, Lawson traveled to India to work the Methodist Board of Missionaries. While in India, he studied the Gandhian principles of Satayagrapha, or the strategy of nonviolence.

Upon returning to the US in 1956, Lawson entered Oberlin College's Graduate School of Theology. In 1957, one of Lawson's professors introduced him to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who urged him to move south and aid in the Civil Rights Movement. Heeding King's advice, Lawson moved to Nashville, Tennessee and enrolled at the Divinity School of Vanderbilt University, where he served as the southern director for FOR and began hosting nonviolence training workshops for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. There Lawson trained many of the future leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including James Bevel, Diane Nash, John Lewis, Bernard Lafayette, and Marion Barry.

In 1960, Lawson was expelled from Vanderbilt for organizing the Nashville student sit-ins. Lawson moved to Memphis in June 1962, where he became pastor of Centenary Methodist Church, one of the largest churches in the city. He also continued his organizing activity. Throughout the decade, he led various community movements for racial justice in Memphis. In 1968, while involved in the Sanitation Workers strike, he invited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis to speak where 15,000 people heard his famous "I've Been to the Mountaintop Speech."

In 1974, James Lawson moved to Los Angeles, California where he became pastor of Holman United Methodist Church and continued his social activism now on Palestinian and immigrant rights; gay and lesbian issues; the Iraq wars; and poverty. Rev. Lawson retired from Holman United Methodist Church in 1999.In 2004 Lawson was awarded the Community of Christ International Peace Award.

Lawson has continued to train activists in nonviolence and to work in support of a number of civil rights causes, including immigrants' rights in the United States and the rights of Palestinians, opposition to the war in Iraq, and workers' rights to a living wage.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on James Lawson and other top speakers and celebrities.

BOOK James Lawson
Videos
BOOK James Lawson
FAQs

  • HOW TO BOOK James Lawson?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like James Lawson for both live and virtual events for over 15 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for James Lawson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for James Lawson or any other celebrity of your choice.

  • HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BOOK James Lawson?

    Booking fees for James Lawson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. Pricing often varies between live and virtual events. Other factors that can affect speaker fees include the talent's schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The live and virtual event speaking fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire James Lawson, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.

  • WHO IS THE AGENT FOR James Lawson?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like James Lawson for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book James Lawson for your next private or corporate function.

  • WHAT IS A FULL-SERVICE TALENT BOOKING AGENCY?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent James Lawson or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for James Lawson or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.
Check Availability

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

Users also viewed these speakers:

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

James Lawson

5 out of 5
1 review

Reverend & Civil Rights Activist

Travels From:
Nashville, TN, USA
Speaking Fee:
Live Event: $30,000 - $50,000
Virtual Event: $10,000 - $20,000
More Fee Info
Categories:
Activists, Christian Speakers, Virtual Speakers

James Lawson Biography

Reverend James M. Lawson, Jr. was one of the Civil Rights Movement's leading theoreticians and tacticians in the African American struggle for freedom and equality in the 1950s and 1960s.

Lawson's interest in civil rights and social justice began in 1947 when he entered Baldwin-Wallace College . During his years at Baldwin-Wallace, he became a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) local chapter and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), both of which were devoted advocates of direct nonviolent resistance to racism.

Consistent with his beliefs towards nonviolence, Lawson became a "conscientious objector" during the Korean War, and was sentenced to three years in prison for violating draft laws. Upon his release from prison and the completion of his bachelor's degree, Lawson traveled to India to work the Methodist Board of Missionaries. While in India, he studied the Gandhian principles of Satayagrapha, or the strategy of nonviolence.

Upon returning to the US in 1956, Lawson entered Oberlin College's Graduate School of Theology. In 1957, one of Lawson's professors introduced him to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who urged him to move south and aid in the Civil Rights Movement. Heeding King's advice, Lawson moved to Nashville, Tennessee and enrolled at the Divinity School of Vanderbilt University, where he served as the southern director for FOR and began hosting nonviolence training workshops for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. There Lawson trained many of the future leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including James Bevel, Diane Nash, John Lewis, Bernard Lafayette, and Marion Barry.

In 1960, Lawson was expelled from Vanderbilt for organizing the Nashville student sit-ins. Lawson moved to Memphis in June 1962, where he became pastor of Centenary Methodist Church, one of the largest churches in the city. He also continued his organizing activity. Throughout the decade, he led various community movements for racial justice in Memphis. In 1968, while involved in the Sanitation Workers strike, he invited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis to speak where 15,000 people heard his famous "I've Been to the Mountaintop Speech."

In 1974, James Lawson moved to Los Angeles, California where he became pastor of Holman United Methodist Church and continued his social activism now on Palestinian and immigrant rights; gay and lesbian issues; the Iraq wars; and poverty. Rev. Lawson retired from Holman United Methodist Church in 1999.In 2004 Lawson was awarded the Community of Christ International Peace Award.

Lawson has continued to train activists in nonviolence and to work in support of a number of civil rights causes, including immigrants' rights in the United States and the rights of Palestinians, opposition to the war in Iraq, and workers' rights to a living wage.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on James Lawson and other top speakers and celebrities.

BOOK James Lawson

James Lawson Videos

  • James Lawson - Gandhi and Nonviolence - YouTube
    James Lawson - Gandhi and Nonviolence - YouTube
  • Shaping Your Destiny | Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. | TEDxCrenshaw ...
    Shaping Your Destiny | Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. | TEDxCrenshaw ...
  • James Lawson: Reflections on Life, Nonviolence, Civil Rights, MLK ...
    James Lawson: Reflections on Life, Nonviolence, Civil Rights, MLK ...
See All Videos »

FAQs on booking James Lawson

  • How to book James Lawson?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like James Lawson for both live and virtual events for over 20 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for James Lawson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for James Lawson or any other celebrity of your choice.

  • How much does it cost to book James Lawson?

    Booking fees for James Lawson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. Pricing often varies between live and virtual events. Other factors that can affect speaker fees include the talent's schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The live and virtual event speaking fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire James Lawson, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.

  • Who is the agent for James Lawson?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like James Lawson for clients worldwide for more than 20 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book James Lawson for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service talent booking agency?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent James Lawson or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for James Lawson or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.

James Lawson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book James Lawson for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. James Lawson generally travels from Nashville, TN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Nikki Giovanni, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, Bobby Seale, Xernona Clayton and Ijeoma Oluo. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling James Lawson for an upcoming live or virtual event.

BOOK James Lawson

James Lawson Speaker Videos

  • James Lawson - Gandhi and Nonviolence - YouTube
    James Lawson - Gandhi and Nonviolence - YouTube
    Shaping Your Destiny | Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. | TEDxCrenshaw ...
    Shaping Your Destiny | Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. | TEDxCrenshaw ...
  • James Lawson: Reflections on Life, Nonviolence, Civil Rights, MLK ...
    James Lawson: Reflections on Life, Nonviolence, Civil Rights, MLK ...
BOOK James Lawson

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

Need Quick Answers?

We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.

  1.800.698.2536
Our celebrity booking agents can:

  • Gauge interest and check availability for speaking engagements, appearances or corporate events

  • Provide you with the speaking fee to book James Lawson or other celebrity appearance fees

  • Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities

  • Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process

Speakers Similar to James Lawson

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP

The 2022 Speaking Industry Benchmark Report